Lighting effect and method of creating same



March 27, 1934. R, E, BARCLAY LIGHTING EFFECT AND METHOD OF CREATING SAME Filed Nov. 21, 1931 l l l l l l I I l Ilrllllll lill f f ld@ Il EAHLI-,dd:

'Muay/n' Patented Mar. 27, 1934 f UTED STATES LIGHTING EFFECT AND METHOD F CREATING SAME Robert E. Barclay, Chicago, Ill.

Application November 21, 1931, Serial No. 576,601

Claims.

My invention relates in general to illumination.

In its broader aspects, my invention comprises means for creating luminous fountain effects,

5 which are particularly well adapted for display purposes and the invention more particularly refers to means for and method of augmenting the lighting effects when sprays or cascades of water or other fluid are illuminated for artistic and l0 other purposes.

The invention may be employed in any desired or preferred fountain arrangement and includes also the illumination of the fountain parts themselves in addition to the sprays of iiuid created y l5 in the fountain, the general effect of my invention being to provide uniform diffusion and increased brilliance of the light effect together with the modification of the natural appearance of the illuminated parts.

An important object of the invention is to mix a light sensitive material with the iiuid projected in illuminated fountains or cascades so that the stream or spray will sparkle with an unnatural and surprising brilliance.

Another important object of the invention is to provide means for and method of illumination which consists in employing fluorescents and phosphorescents in illuminated fountains in order to create startling luminescent effects so that the fountain or stream so treated will be caused to standout vividly and create an unusual impression upon the spectator, the invention having special utility for exhibition purposes.

The invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a practical embodiment of theinvention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a small fountain device embodying the various associated elements employed to create the novel effects contemplated in my present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the line 2-2 in Figure 1; and

Figures 3 and 4 are `wiring diagrams.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on the drawing a small fountain device comprising a main structure 11 in which the several elements of the device are arranged. The structure illustrated comprises a vertical panel 13 having forwardly extending anges 15 along the opposed vertical edges of the panel, inwardly and outwardly extending fianges 17 being formed at the 55 forward edges of the side flanges 15. The bottom of the structure is formed to provide a cistern or trough 19 capable of containing a body of fluid 21.

The upper portion of the panel 13 is provided with means 23 forming an artistic featurel 50 from which a stream of fluid 25 may be ejected in the form of a spray, the spray being ejected by means of a nozzle 27 forming an integral part of the element 23. The nozzle 27 is connected by suitable pipes 29 through a pump 31 and cistern 19 so that when the pump is actuated as by an electric drive motor 33 or other suitable pump driving means, a continuous stream of water will be projected from the nozzle 27 and fall downwardly in front of the panel 13 into the 70 cistern. The forward face of the panel 13 below the element 23 is also provided with artistic forms 35 comprising, in the illustrated embodiment, modernistic iiowers and foliage.

In order to improve the effect created by the fountain, these parts 35 and the element 23 may be suitably tinted to create normal color effects under the influence of visible light rays. The fluid 21 also may be colored or tinted to create a definite color effect when under the influence of visible light rays. It is the purpose of my present invention, however, to create various novel changing color eects in certain of the fountain parts, such as the unit 23 and the elements 35 and more particularly in the stream of fluid 25, which is formed during the operation of the fountain. 'f

To this end I coat the elements 23 and. 35 with light sensitive material, such as resorcinolphthalein, whichis a biological dye commonly known as fluoresceine, which has the capacity to Y glow or fluoresce when subjected to the invisible light rays, such as are found in the ultra violet region of the spectrum, that is to say, ultra violet rays having a wave length of 390-400 Angstrom units.

Various phosphorescent and fluorescent materials have the property of glowing in a surprising fashion when subjected to lightof a particular .Y wave length, and my invention is not limited to the use of any particular luminescent material for the purpose of coating the elements 23 and 35.

In creating the novel lighting effects of my present invention, I also form a solution or sus- Y Y pension of suitable luminescent material such as the hereinbefore mentioned fluoresceine in the uid 21, of which the spray or stream 25 of them fountain is formed so that'when the spray orf stream 25 is subjected to other than visible lightf: rays, the appearance of the stream will be greatly changed and the same will glow and sparkle in a manner entirely dierent from the appearance created when visible light rays are directed upon the stream.

In order to apply the proper kind of light to the stream and the tinted elements 20 and 35, I mount suitable ultra violet lamp units 37 on the inwardly extending flanges 17 so that these lamps 37 are not visible to a spectator viewing the fountain. rIhe lamps 37 are preferably in the form of an elongated tubular member and are preferably operated in accordance with the principles of discharge arc illumination, the same preferably comprising discharge arc lamps capable of emitting ultra violet light and made in accordance with the invention disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial Number 569,563, filed October 19, 1931.

The lamps 37 are mounted in suitable support members 39 carried on the flanges 17, the support members embodying suitable electrodes 41 and being connected by suitable connectors 43 to an external source of electrical power, whereby the same may be operated.

In Figure 3 of the drawing, I have shown electrical connections for furnishing power to the lamps 37 and also for powering the pump actuating motor 33. This electrical system includes a ypair of conductors 45 leading from the power buses 47 through a switch 49, fuses 51 and a conductor 53 to the motor 33. This system also includes conductors 55 leading from the power buses 47 through a disconnecting switch 57 and fuses 59 to the primary winding 61 of a transformer 63, the secondary winding of which is connected to the leads 43 which carry the actuating power to the lamps 37.

The fountain may also be provided with lamps emitting light of different wave lengths than that produced by the ultra violet lamps 37, as for instance, ordinary incandescent lamps or arc lamps capable of emitting Visible light, and the connections may be formed to flash the visible and invisible light alternately in order to produce a rapidly changing visual effect in the fountain. Such an arrangement produces alternately a normal and a weird and startling effect, which is of great value for display purposes.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, I have shown electrical connections for alternately energizing the ultra violet lamps 37 contained in the circuit 43, and the incandescent lamps 67 contained in the circuit 69, the circuits 43 and 69 being alternately energized from the main light circuit 55 when the switch 57 is closed by means of a flasher 71 of any suitable or desired construction.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages; the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. The method of illumination which consists in creating a stream or spray of fluid sensitive to light rays of a predetermined character in position to be viewed by observers and illuminating said stream or spray alternatively with light rays to which the fluid is highly sensitive and rays to which the fluid is relatively insensitive.

2. The method of illumination which consists in creating a stream or spray of fluid adapted to be excited to become luminescent upon exposure to light rays of predetermined character while remaining substantially non-luminescent when exposed to rays of another kind in position to be viewed by observers and illuminating said stream or spray alternatively with light rays adapted to excite the luminescent fluid and rays which do not excite the fluid materially.

3. In combination, a fluid adapted to be excited to become luminescent upon exposure to light rays of a predetermined character, means to move the fluid as a stream along a predetermined path within the view of observers and means to illuminate the iiuid as it travels in said path alternatively with light rays adapted to excite the luminescent iiuid and rays which do not materially excite the fluid.

4. The combination of means forming a fountain, means coating parts of the fountain with a film of luminescent material adapted to be excited to become luminescent when exposed to light rays of a predetermined character and means to create a stream or spray of fluid in said fountain adjacent said coated parts, said fluid comprising a luminous material and a suitable carrier for the luminous material and means to illuminate the stream or spray and the coated parts alteratively with light adapted to excite and light which does not materially excite the luminescent material in order to create surprising lighting effects.

5. The combination of means to create a stream or spray of fluid having luminescent material therein adapted to be excited to become luminescent after exposure to ultra violet light rays and means to illuminate said stream alternately with invisible ultra violet light rays and visible light rays, such as are produced by incandescent lamps, whereby to instantaneously change the visual appearance of the fluid before the eyes of the observers.

6. The combination of means creating a stream or spray of uid adapted to be excited to become luminescent upon exposure to light rays of a predetermined character while remaining substantially non-luminescent when exposed to rays of another character, an electrical discharge lamp mounted in position to shine upon the stream or spray, an incandescent lamp mounted in position to illuminate the stream or spray with visible light rays, and means to alternately energize the incandescent lamp and the discharge lamp in order to expose the stream within the View of observers alternately to rays adapted to render the stream or spray luminescent and to rays which do not materially excite the uid.

7. The combination of means creating a stream or spray of fluid adapted to be excited to become luminescent upon exposure to light rays of a predetermined character whle remaining substantially non-luminescent when exposed to rays of another character, means to illuminate the stream or spray with light rays which do not materially excite the fluid, and additional means to expose the stream or spray within the view of observers at intervals to rays adapted to render the stream or spray luminescent.

8. The combination of means creating a stream or spray of fluid adapted to be excited to become luminescent upon exposure to light rays of a predetermined character while remaining subluminate the stream with light which does not materially excite the fluid, and means to illuminate said :duid at intervals with rays adapted to highly excite the luminescent iiuid.

10. The method of illumination, which consists in creating a stream or spray of light sensitive fluid in position to be seen by observers, and i1- luminating the stream or spray with light rays to which the fluid is relatively insensitive and at intervals with rays to which the stream or spray is highly sensitive.

ROBERT E. BARCLAY. 

